Go Wanderer June 2015

Abandon the Ordinary June 2015 | Vol 1, Issue 3

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE REPTILIAN KIND Behind The Scenes At Gatorland

DRIFTING BACK IN TIME WITH captain MIKE’S LAZY RIVER CRUISES IT’S TURTLE TIME: 3 WAYS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES June 2015

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• Manatee Tours • Scalloping Trips • Sunset Cruises • Eco Tours BOO

SCALLKOYOUR P TRIP ING T ODAY!

PROMISES OF FREEDOM:

SELECTIONS FROM THE ARTHUR PRIMAS COLLECTION

(352) 795-TOUR

MajesticManateeTours.com

June 27-August 23

’S T E L MB CLI ES! E R Y T P O CAN RS

u o y g n i n i Tra for the ted! unexpec

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choo s l a v i v r u idas

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• Advanced Survival Course • Preparedness Consultations • Weekend Warrior Course • Family Classes Available • Survival Kits

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(352)502-5355

steven_claytor@yahoo.com

AppletonMuseum.org

4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, FL

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Table of contents Abandon the Ordinary

DEPARTMENTS Publisher’s Note | Go Wild!

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Tracks | 10

Sea Turtles

Happenings | 14

Calendar of Events

Travel Talk

Into The Wild

| 18

FEATURES Gator Wrestler | 6 Birds Of A Feather | 16 Captain Mike’s River Tours | 20 Visit Gainesville | 22

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Check out our website!

Go Wanderer is a travel resource based out of Central Florida that focuses on sharing travel news and stories from both near and far. Our goal is to provide details on places around the globe that will motivate you to get out there and explore. Travel tips, location information, and stories from wanderers like yourself, are what fuel our web-fire.

Whether you are stepping out into your own backyard, or prepping your backpack for a trip abroad, we hope that you find our site inspiring and helpful while planning your journey.

Go Wanderer Magazine JUNE 2015 Volume 1: Issue 3 Publisher/Editor Jessica Smith jessica@GoWanderer.com Assitant Editor Lauren Thompson

Follow us on:

Art Director: Heather Lenemier artdept@GoWanderer.com Writers: Lindsay Clark Bob Marx Jessica Smith Jennifer Huber Photography: Jessica Smith Sales: Jessica Smith jessica@GoWanderer.com Go Wanderer Media PO Box 5344 Ocala, Fl. 34478 352-239-0985 info@GoWanderer.com Copyright 2015 Go Wanderer Media.

All rights reserved. No part may be reprinted in whole or in part with out written permission from the publisher.

Unsolicited material will not be returned.

Publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ claims or content of advertisements.

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PUBLISHER’s NOTE

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Behind the Scenes at Gatorland Written by Jennifer A. Huber

M

y heart raced as soon as I followed Tim Williams, Dean of Gator Wrestling, into Gatorland’s sandy Gator Wrestlin’ Arena. I can’t recall what he was saying. Perhaps he was giving me valuable safety tips for being in a ring surrounded by muscular, toothy reptiles. I was distracted by alligator wrangler Justin White who was reaching into the moat of a dozen ornery gators.

Using two hands, White grabbed the tail of a six-foot gator and pulled it into the ring. He straddled the gator’s back, sat on it and gripped its lower and upper jaws together. He pulled its head toward him so the animal’s mouth faced the sky. Mr. White placed his bearded chin over the gator’s mouth and held his arms behind his back.

“That’s the ‘Butterfly’,” Mr. Williams said and added this demonstrates what little strength it takes to hold an alligator’s mouth shut.

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It was my turn. Contemplating fighting or fleeing, I swallowed my fear and decided if 12-year-old children could do this, a 44-yearold well-traveled woman who has endured TSA pat-downs could try modified alligator wrestling.

Located on Orange Blossom Trail between Kissimmee and Orlando, Gatorland was founded in 1949 by Owen Godwin. Today, the 110-acre park is privately owned by his family. Part theme park, part wildlife preserve, the familyfriendly attraction offers one-ofa-kind animal shows, petting zoo, aviary and wildlife observation points. It’s home to an alligator population of about 1,800.

For an additional fee plus park admission, several hands-on experiences to teach guests about wildlife in an entertaining manner are available. One of those experiences is Rookie Wrestling. Children and adults can try their hand at straddling an alligator while gripping the animal’s leather-like jaws and posing for the camera.

Holding the pair of powerful jaws capable of crushing at a strength

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of 2,000 pounds per square inch and looking down on the gator’s snout and some of its 82 razor-sharp teeth, the alligator began inflating and deflating beneath me.

“That’s how it regulates its body to surface and submerge in the water,” Mr. White explained. Alligator wrestling isn’t simply about entertainment. It’s about using entertainment to educate people about these often misunderstood animals.

The Adventure Hour experience leads guests into the Alligator Breeding Marsh filled with hundreds of gators to learn about and watch a feeding frenzy. I cautiously followed Mr. Williams and trainer Pete Sovich to an area where half a dozen gators, at least twice the size of what I had seen in the Gator Wrestlin’ Arena, were a few feet away.

Feasting on raw meat, they swallowed their meals in a gulp or two and I was close enough to check their teeth for cavities.

It wasn’t love at first sight entering the bachelor pad of Chester, a 13 ½-foot-long, 1,000 pound alligator, but a feeling of respect.

Guests sample what it takes

to work with reptiles ranging from hatchlings to halfton alligators and tortoises to snakes in the Trainer for a Day experience. Chester floated in his pool and made a sound I can describe as a frightening low, prehistoric roar. He was relocated from Tampa, saving him from being destroyed as a nuisance alligator.

Four ivory treasures with sapphire-blue eyes live in the park.

They are male, rare leucistic alligators from the swamps of Louisiana. Leucism is a genetic condition with a partial loss of pigmentation resulting in white skin coloration. Because these animals are white, their skin is susceptible to sun burning and because males tend to be aggressive with other males, they are kept in separate covered, indoor pens.

If gripping the jaws of an alligator isn’t thrilling enough, soar over treetops and dangle your toes over the Alligator Breeding Marsh with the park’s popular Screamin’ Gator Zip Line.

There’s also the boundless zip line experience for guests with lower body disabilities.

In 1991, Gatorland created the Bird Rookery as an alligator breeding marsh with hopes of building it

About Jennifer A. Huber and birds would come. Today, the 10-acre rookery thrives with more than 20 species of birds as snowy egrets, great egrets, and cormorants. Late winter and spring, keep your eyes open while walking the boardwalk as you might be at eye-level with a nest of fuzzy anhinga or tricolored heron chicks. Mid-April through May, enjoy the symphonic thrill of alligator mating season with splashes, rumbles and bellows.

T he Photographer s Pass grant s pho tographers and avian enthusiasts early and late access into the park from the end of January through mid-June.

Pass holders can observe the rookery in action with fewer crowds and ideal light for photography.

“Gatorland is Orlando’s best low-tech adventure park,” the Dean of Gator Wrestling said. Driving home, the thrills I had earlier gave me an adrenaline rush I never felt at any other theme park and I couldn’t agree with him more.

Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led Jennifer A. Huber to a career path in tourism.

She has worked in the tourism industry for more than 20 years including 10 years with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley and Everglades National Park. She currently lives in Southwest Florida, and maintains the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely.

IF YOU GO Gatorland is easy to spot on Orange Blossom Trail, look for the world-famous green, concrete alligator jaws near the park’s entrance.

An edible experience is a visit to Pearl’s Smokehouse for the fried gator nuggets.

Request a side of barbecue sauce for a zippy bite.

Gatorland 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail Orlando, FL 32837 407-855-5496 or 800-393-5297 The park is open daily and experiences are an additional fee on top of admission.

Many experiences require advance reservations.

A word of caution, please do not try alligator wrestling on your own. And don’t worry, the gator’s mouth is banded for newbie alligator wrestlers.

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Three Ways You Can Experience Florida’s Endangered Sea Turtles 10

June 2015

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he pristine sandy beaches, so prized by Florida’s tourists, are also the favorite nesting site for five rare species of sea turtles. Though four other states in the nation also receive some turtles every year, Florida by far has the highest concentration, with 40,000 to 80,000 nests laid each breeding season. All five species found in Florida (the Loggerhead, the Green turtle, the Leatherback, the Kemp’s Ridley and the Hawksbill) are considered threatened or endangered

and are protected under state statutes.

From the large and rare Leatherback, weighing in at an average of 1200 pounds, to the small Hawksbill that was originally prized for it’s beautiful shell used in jewelry, it is up to everyone that visits the beaches to respect the turtles and learn how to be responsible beach-goers. This is important especially during nesting and hatching season which runs from May to October. Here are a few ways to get involved with

this amazing species: Join a Turtle Watch Program The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge located on the east coast in Melbourne Beach, FL strives to protect a stretch of beaches about 20 miles long that is the most important nesting site for the Loggerhead sea turtle in the Western hemisphere. It is also a major nesting site for the Green sea turtle. The turtles lay on average 1000 nests per mile of beach, which re-

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sults in 15,000 to 20,000 hatchling turtles every year.

You can join a Guided Turtle Watch Monday through Friday evenings in June and July.

Turtles only lay eggs after sunset, which means the watches start at 9:00 pm and can go until midnight. These tours are

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witness. Call (321) 723-3556 to make reservations. limited to a certain number of guests, and reservations open May 1st. Under the pale glow of the moon visitors will have the opportunity to watch a several hundred pound sea turtle make the arduous journey from the water to her chosen nesting site where she may lay over 100 ping-pong sized eggs, before she covers them and makes the trip back to the water.

It is an amazing experience to

Witness a Turtle Nest Excavation Only the very lucky are fortunate enough to observe a nest of sea turtles when they first hatch and make the mad dash to the ocean. Instead, consider a trip to Amelia Island, Florida and join the Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch volunteers as they do routine nest excavations two to three days after a nest hatches. Starting in late June to early July of each year the public is invited to watch nest excavations take place. As trained volunteers dig through a nesting site, they gather data

from each nest. They collect information such as number of eggs hatched and unhatched to record the fertility of the turtles, they often find newly hatched sea turtles that didn’t make it out of the nest and help them to the water’s edge. Visitors are encourage to watch and ask questions.

This can be a great way to get up close and personal with a sea turtle without having to spend time on the beach after dark. All planned excavations are posted on their website at: www.ameliaislandseaturtlewatch.com or you can call Mary Duffy at (904)583-1913.

Learn About Marine Life at a Turtle Hospital While sea turtles spend the majority of their lives offshore, occasionally a few need a bit of help to stay afloat. When conditions get tough for turtles, the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, Florida is there to help.

Home to a sea turtle and bird hospital, the Marine Science Center comes to the aid of wayward sea turtles, injured

by human activities (boat propellers and pollution) or run down by winter weather. With a fantastic visitor’s center, families can become familiar with species of fish and birds in the area, and even observe the recovering turtles as the veterinary staff perform procedures. With a variety of educational programs and summer camps, the Marine Science Center turns a trip to the beach into an educational experience for young and old.

Learn more at www.marinesciencecenter.com.

How to be Sea Turtle Sensitive: A conscientious beach-goer can help sea turtles succeed in several easy but important ways. Remember these tips next time you head to the coast:

Mother sea turtles expend a lot of energy coming ashore to lay eggs.

If her path is blocked by a lounge chair she may turn around, only to have to make the hard trip on land to lay eggs again the next night.

3. Keep dogs on leash and pick up their waste. Dog poop might attract scavengers onto the beach, leading them to a newly laid nest that might otherwise have escaped notice.

4. Pick up and throw away garbage, especially plastic. Bags are very tempting to sea turtles, once they are floating in the water they resemble jelly fish, a turtle’s favorite snack.

1. Turn off all artificial light sources along the water. Hatchlings head towards the brightest source of light when they emerge. That should be the horizon line of the open ocean, but more often than not is the back porch light of a beach house.

2. Pick up beach chairs, umbrellas and toys.

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happenings

june

June 20-21

June 22

Daytona International Speedway 1801 International Speedway Blvd Daytona, FL 32114 (800) 748-7467 Enjoy two days of sliding, banging, and jumping await those who attend this thrilling spectacle of motor vehicles. For racing lovers of all ages. Tickets Purchased in Advance. http:// www.redbullglobalrallycross.com/ events/2015_season/daytona-fl/

St. Photios Greek Shrine 41 St. George St. St. Augustine, FL 32084 (904) 829-8205 Be Greek for a day at the Greek Landing Festival commemorating the arrival of 500 Greeks in St. Augustine. The event begins at 9 am with services, but the day continues for the rest of the day.

In the evening take a cruise along the shoreline (begins at 8:30 pm and ends at 10:30 pm). Event is free but the cruise is $25 per person. http://augustine.com/event/ greek-landing-day

Red Bull Global Rallycross

June 20-21

The “Battle of Bloody Mose” Commemoration June 12-14

24th Annual Harvest Festival

Lakeridge Winery and Vineyard 19239 U.S. 27 N Clermont, FL 34715 1-800-768-WINE (9463) Come on out to Lakeridge Winery to stomp the grapes and enjoy other activities such as vendors among others. The event runs from 10 am to 5 pm on the 12th and 13th and from 11 am to 5 pm on the 14th. $2 Donation to benefit Hospice Foundation http://www.lakeridgewinery.com/Events/ june 18

28th Annual Seaside Fiesta

Flagler Avenue New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169 (386) 424-2175 This fiesta is a fun evening out for the whole family with live entertainment, food, and more.

Event begins at 5 pm and ends at 9 pm.

Cost: Free

15 Fort Mose Trail St. Augustine, FL 32084 (904) 823-2232 Re-live the 1780 battle of “Bloody Mose” while enjoying activities for young and young at heart, exhibits, and vendors of all kinds. Begins at 10 am and closes at 3 pm with re-enactments at 11 am and 2 pm.

Adults: $2. Children (5 and under): Free. http://augustine.com/event/ battle-bloody-mose

Greek Landing Day Festival

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Journey Tribute and Fireworks 70 Boardwalk Daytona Beach, FL 32118 Enjoy the music of the legendary rock band “Journey” on the beach followed by fireworks over the ocean with the concert beginning at 7:15 pm and the fireworks at 9:45 pm. Cost: Free http://www.daytonabeach.com/ includes/calendar-of-events/Journey-Tribute-Fireworks/35310/

juLY jly 4

Independence Day Celebration

Ormond Beach, FL Enjoy the Fourth of July in Ormond Beach with the four “f’s”: food, fun, festive music, and, of course, fireworks! Cost: Free http://www.hallst.com/en/event/independence-day-celebration-244042 July 4

OUR COUNTRY DAYS

Keystone Heights, FL Start the day off cheering and/or participating in the annual 5K and continue the day with various other contests, food, fun, and vendors ending with the firework display at 9:30 pm over Keystone Beach. Cost: Free http://ourcountryday.com

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July 4-5

Flagler Beach Fabulous Fourth Veteran’s Park SR 100 and A1A Flagler Beach, FL 32136 Come celebrate our Independence Day in Flagler Beach with two days of festivities including food, live music, contests, and fireworks. Cost: Free https://www.facebook.com/ FabulousFourthinFlagler July 5

Florida Safari Silver Springs State Park 1425 NE 58th Ave Ocala, FL 34470 (352) 236-7148 Join and ranger and take a 4x4 to explore Silver Springs State Park and see some local wildlife. First ride is at 10 am.

Cost: Free with park admission https://www.floridastateparks.org/park-events/SilverSprings?page=6 July 10-11

Vetfest ‘15

Waldo Motor Sports 16258 NE US HWY 301 Waldo, FL 32694 Bikes, music, Bar-B-Q, and two days honoring our veterans await you with family night on Friday (5-9 pm) and all day Saturday (10 am – 10 pm). Adults: $5 Children (8 and under): Free https://www.facebook.com/ VETFEST13

august

AUGUST 30

MEGA JAM

AUGUST 15

Seminole War Commemoration Re-Enactment

St. Francis Barracks St. Augustine, FL 32084 (904) 940-0932 Come watch as re-enactors in full period uniform re-enact the end of the 2nd Seminole War. Cost: Free http://www.floridashistoriccoast. com/listings/view/24492 AUGUST 15-16

21st Annual Harvest Grape Stomp

Lakeridge Winery and Vineyard 19239 U.S. 27 N Clermont, FL 34715 1-800-768-WINE (9463) Participate in and watch grape stomp competitions while enjoying live entertainment, food, drinks, and tours of Lakeridge Winery and Vineyard from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and from 11am to 5 pm on Sunday. $2 Donation to benefit the Boys & Girls Club www.lakeridgewinery.com/Events/

4222 N U.S. HWY 301 Wildwood, FL 34785 (352) 507-8MUD (8683) Mega Truck races, food, live music, and fun for everyone! Doors open at 12 pm, Mega Truck race at 2 pm, and entertainment and fun throughout the whole day.

Adults: $20, Children: $6 Children (5 and under): Free http://fun4lakekids.com/ calendar/eventdetail/ 39971/17/mega-truck-jam

t Key Clam Fes r a d e C a id r Old Flo City Park L Cedar Key, F liday with other clam Spend the hoenjoying food, activilovers while entertainment. Cost: ties, and live cedarkeyguide.com/ Free http:// ts.html events/even

July 4

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ith warm temperatures year round, Florida is a birder’s paradise. Home to over 500 species of birds, you are bound to run into a few whenever you step out-

side of your door. Large, small, and multi-colored, keeping track of which bird is which can be an overwhelming task. Highlight here for you, is a water birds starter set,

featuring five of the State’s more common and easy to distinguish birds. Next time you are out on the water, see how many of these feathered natives you can spot.

( Ardea herodias) With it’s signature blue-gray color and dark stripe near it’s eye, the Great Blue Heron is hard to miss. Standing around three feet tall on average and with wingspans reaching up to 6 feet wide, these herons are North America’s largest.

(Egretta caerulea) Sometimes referred to as Little Blue Herons, these birds are smaller and darker than their Great Blue relatives. Often described as being nearly purple in color, these birds stalk for minnows and small fish in the shallows.

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(Anhinga anhinga)

( Ardea Alba) Brilliantly white with wispy tuffs of plumage, the Great Egret makes a big impression whether standing frozen in the marshes, or soaring over head. Smaller than Great Blue Herons, yet larger than Snowy Egrets, the Great Egret has an average wingspan of about 5 feet.

Common around rivers and swamps, this dark water bird is often confused with the Cormorant. While Cormorants have hooked beaks, Anhingas remain straight and spear-like. Anhingas can also be distinguished by silvery patches on their wings, which are often spread out wide post-swim.

(Eudocimus albus) Recognizable by it’s distinctive curved beak, the White Ibis can be found on the waters edge as well as in grassy areas on the look out for insects and other small prey. Medium in size, occasionally you can spot the black tips of this bird’s wings, but typically only when it is in flight.

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TRAVEL TALK

Into the Wild : : Vacationing with Mother Nature Written by Bob Marx

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re you looking for a different type of vacation? Have you had enough sand between your toes? Are you over crusin’ the deep blue seas? Don’t need another thrill ride to complete your life? If you checked off any of these as “been there and done that” then you might just be in the market for a completely different type of vacation experience.

respite can be as equally rewarding and enjoyable as any flirtation with Mickey or Monaco. In fact, nature tourism is the fastest growing segment in the multibillion dollar travel industry.

Tourism overall has increased at a typical annual rate of 5-7%, while nature travel is increasing at an annual rate of between 10% and 30%. About now, perhaps you are thinking, what is nature travel anyway? Is it for me?

rived), and active community participation. Ecotourism is distinguished by the following characteristics: 1) There is a low impact to the destination by the visitor; 2) There is a sensitivity towards, and appreciation of, local culture; 3) There are sustainable benefits to local communities; and 4) There is an educational component to both the traveler and local community.

Let’s talk Ecotourism, and before you blow this idea off as boring or uneventful, let me assure you that an Ecotourism

What is ecotourism ?

Is ecotourism for me?

First, ecotourism is loosely defined as travel to enjoy and appreciate nature. Ecotourism is distinguished by its emphasis on conservation, education, traveler responsibility (leave the place better than when you ar-

The demographics of the “typical” ecotourist are: between 35-54 years old, 50% male and 50% female, 82% were college graduates, 60% tend to travel as a couple, while 13% prefer to travel alone, with the typical expenditure by an experienced ecotourist being between $1500 and $2100 per trip. As for where the ecotourist might be found, some examples of

June 2015

nature and ecotourism include a visit to Mayan sites, trekking thru Nepal, visits to United States National Parks, nature and game reserves in South Africa, birdwatching in Peru, an Everglades Day Safari, Freeport Whale and Seabird Tours in Nova Scotia and escorted self-drive tours to Outback Australia. Pretty cool ventures.

So, is ecotourism for you...?

If you are affirmative in your response, then here are a couple of websites that typically are tops on the list of Greenies and Responsible Travelers: Planeta.com (a site for serious ecotourism travelers and been around since 1995); EcoTravelLogue (also has a “build your own trip” module) and TransitonsAbroad (an online portal, offers a detailed section on responsible travel and ecotourism, as well as links to budget travel, and links to women, senior and teen travel). You may also want to check out Best Eco Travel Guides. While there are undoubtedly other sites for mobile Greenies to check out these sites are a great starting point for your Eco adventure planning and research.

If all of the international unrest has you thinking about keeping your vacation travel a bit closer to the home fires, then here are the top 10 states for Ecotourism in the United States (from least popular to the most):

10. Texas

– Best state for bird watching.

9. Maine

– Check out the Inn By The Sea, an LEED Hotel along with the Maine Woods Initiative.

8. New York

– There are a number of reasons why people love New York, and among those is the largest number of Green Certified Restaurants in the USA, and one of the lowest carbon footprints per capita.

7. Montana – Here in Big

Sky Country you will find two prominent National Parks: Yellowstone and Glacier. Also, check out Stone Creek Camp in Bigfork for an ecologically cool sleeping experience.

6. Oregon – If the outdoors

is for you, then so is Oregon.

Oregon is home to sustainable winemaking and organic farming vacation options, along with numerous outdoor adventures such as hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.

5. Washington – Check

out Mt. Ranier, southeast o f Ta c o m a i s a n e c o ­ tourism hotspot.

4. Colorado – No surprise here! With the Rocky Mountains, ecotourism opportunities abound, including Llama-trekking adventures and canyon zip lining, the word awesome comes to mind.

Half-Dome in Yosemite, to kayaking on the Pacific, the opportunities are endless.

2. Hawaii – Here in paradise

you can find whale watching along with magnificent botanical gardens and the everpopular Merrie Monarch Hula Competition Festival.

At the top of the ecotourism hit parade:

1) Alaska

– Wilderness is what attracts people to our 50th state including Mount McKinley, Denali National Park and spectacular wildlife.

So, if your previous vacations have left you lacking in total experience it might be time to take your next journey with Mother Nature in the lead. Along with the memories, know that you are gaining an added level of education and providing muchneeded revenue for National Parks and other natural areas. Enjoy!

3. California – This state

has it all, including walking and cycling trails, rock climbing, and kayaking. From scaling

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Drifting With Captain Mike’s Lazy River Cruises

Back in Time Written by Jessica Smith

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e have millions of people coming to Florida every year, and they are looking at Disney and the hotels and the airport, but that’s not all of Florida,” Captain Mike Tracy said sitting on the edge of his pontoon boat as it rocked lazily on the river water, “We have so many beautiful areas like this.

Central Florida is one of my favorite places I’ve ever been.”

With golden hues of late afternoon light piercing through the ancient cypress swamp along the Withlacoochee River, the truth was apparent in Captain Mike’s words. Based out of Hernando, Florida at the

popular riverside restaurant, Stumpknockers, Captain Mike has been offering off the beaten path adventures up and down the river for 18 years.

Reminiscent of the river boat jungle cruises of Old Florida, each launch unveils the wonders of the natural world.

The Withlacoochee is known for being rocky below the surface, but Captain Mike sees each obstacle from memory and guides the boat back and forth across the river with out so much as a bump from a hidden log.

“Amusement parks are fine, but you want to see some of the REAL stuff that’s around,” he explained, “We’ve got old cypress swamps along the river and you get to see wildlife at times. It’s just really nice to come out and enjoy a place like this.”

Home to gators, several species of turtles, water birds, deer, and wild hogs, the Withlacoochee River showcases the wild side of

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Florida. On a typical cruise guests are able to safely spot these n a tives from the comfort of the boat’s seat cushions. With each trip it’s own unique adventure lasting around 2 hours, Captain Mike’s Lazy River Cruises makes for the perfect group outing for young and old alike.

For more information or to schedule a cruise for your family or group, you can contact Captain Mike at www.lazyrivercruises.com or by calling 352-637-2726.

CHAMPAGNE FLIGHTS | GIFT CERTIFICATES SPECIAL OCCASIONS | FLIGHT INSTRUCTION

Captain Mike’s lazy river Cruises

BALLOONS & BEYOND Share the adventure of a lifetime!

Celebrating 17 years

Guided boat tours down the Withlacoochee river • Sightseeing • Birdwatching • Private Tours

BUCKET LIST

N RIDE IN A BALLOO TAKE A CRUISE GO ON SAFARI FT WHITE WATER RA KS AR SH DIVE WITH

E V E RY S E AT I S A

PlEaSE Call For rESErVatIonS or if you have 72 hours or more you can email at captmike@netzero.net

W I N D O W S E AT

352-637-2726

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS | 813.240.4844 TOLL FREE (855) IFLYLTA

13821 S.W. Hwy 200

www.lazyrivercruises.com

WWW.BALLOONS-AND-BEYOND.COM | FAA LICENSED SINCE 1976 | INSURED

TREAT YOURSELF to a GETAWAY

Now is the perfect time for an escape to Gainesville. Just far enough away to leave everything behind so you can return refreshed and recharged. Visit Gainesville, a great little getaway.

VisitGainesvilleFlorida

352.374.5260

VisitGainesville.com

@ Gainesville

Gainesville,

D

More Than Gators

ay or night, Gainesville’s Downtown is the symbolic heart of the city. At Bo Diddley Community Plaza, you can often come upon live music, which sets the tone for a great night out.

Head over on Wednesday for the Union Street Farmer’s Market, where you can purchase locally grown vegetables and fresh-baked pastries. Shops and boutiques pop up every night around the Union Street Station Pedestrian Mall.

Conclude your downtown exploration, with a show at the historic Hippodrome Theatre, which has presented

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musicals, comedies, dramas and holiday productions for 40 years. “The Hipp” is the region’s only professional theater—open for public performances 340 days a year, with eight plays, 300 film screenings, 10 festivals, 16 Guest Artists Talkbacks, 12 visual arts exhibitions and hundreds of other programs annually.

Head downtown

Many Floridians consider Alachua County to be a top destination for antique shopping in the state—Micanopy, especially. Stroll under the shade of massive live-oak

trees dripping with Spanish moss and duck into historic buildings, where most antique shops are found. Micanopy is the oldest inland city in Florida, so it’s easy to find history on each shelf and around every corner.

Make a day of it with stops in High Springs and Alachua.

You’ll enjoy Florida’s sunshine at Thornebrook Village, where open-air covered breezeways and lush areas of grass and flowers make a day of shopping look like a walk in the park. Get a massage, a tan or new hairstyle; pop into a perfumery, sample some hand-dipped choco-

lates and purchase one-ofa-kind jewelry—it’s all here.

Hit the museums

The Florida Museum of Natural History houses more than 34 million specimens and cultural artifacts, including one of the world’s largest collections of butterflies and moths (!). Permanent exhibitions explore Florida’s unique habitats and cultural history, such as Florida Fossils: Evolution of Life and Land, which contains fossils 65 million years young.

Recent temporary exhibits included Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs and La Florida: 500 Years in the Place of Flowers. Bonus: with the rare exception of some special exhibits, the museum is free!

The Butterfly Rainforest, at the Florida Museum of Natural History, is a can’t-miss living exhibit that features between 60-80 exotic species at any given time, as well as birds from around the world, turtles and fish. As hundreds of butterflies fly around you, you’ll make your way

through a lush landscape, filled with tropical trees and colorful flowering plants amid waterfalls.

Explore the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, one of the largest university-affiliated art museums in the United States. More than 8,300 works are displayed in the museum’s collections, which include photography and Asian, African, modern and contemporary art. The Harn is the permanent home of Claude Monet’s “Champ d’avoine (Oat Field).” Traveling exhibitions are displayed throughout the year, as well as events such as Museum Nights, lectures, interactive activities, and family and school events.

Step through time

Reading history books isn’t quite the same as seeing it with your own eyes. At Dudley Farm Historic State Park, an authentic working “Cracker” farm, you’ll see the evolution of North Florida farming—through three generations of the Dudley fam-

ily—brought to life by park staff in period clothing who perform chores, raise crops and tend to livestock. Dudley Farm Historic State Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with 18 buildings such as a family farmhouse with original furnishings and an 1880s kitchen outbuilding.

A t Devil’s Millhopper Park, you’ll traverse 120 feet down into a bowl-shaped cavity that’s home to a miniature rain forest. Keep your eye on streams as you descend— they trickle down, down, down, disappearing through crevices in the ground. Devil’s Millhopper is a National Natural Landmark that has helped researchers learn a great deal about Florida’s natural history, through the study of shark teeth fossils, marine shells and the fossilized remains of extinct land animals found in the sink.

Make plans to check out exciting attractions, activities and events with the Gainesville Visitor Guide.

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